Adjustment control and indicator



Jan. 19, 1932. F, ELLIOTT 1,841,941

ADJUSTMENT CONTROL AND INDICATOR Filed Aug. 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 19, 1932..

H F. ELLIOTT ADJUSTMENT CONTROL AND INDICATOR Filed Aug. 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 365 3 2. 36a '5 22 F; 2 5%? 1&466 32 73 4 6 L L Z9 19 20 J 11 r 15 gjwoe ntoz Haz'oldfi?! 0522.

Jan. 19, 1932. H. F. ELLIOTT 1,841,941

ADJUSTMENT CONTROL AND INDICATOR Filed Aug. '7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Harold 2721x5055,

gnve'ntoz Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD F. ELLIOTT, HADDONFIELID, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Applicatiomflled August 7, 1930. Serial nae-73,753.

The. present invention relates to mechanism for making adjustments and to means for visibly indicating the adjustment, and more particularly to an indicating control means for radio tuning apparatus and the like.

The invention in the present embodiment is applied to the simultaneous adjustment of a plurality of condensers such as are used in radio apparatus of the character illustrated in my Patent 1,707,948, granted April 2, 1929.

An object of theinvention is to provide an improved means for combined coarse and fine adjustment which will be capable of greater precision of adjustment and facility of manipulation, while at the same time being simpler in construction and operation and less costly of manufacture than devices of this character heretofore known.

A further object is the provision of an instrumentality by non-rotary movement of which a coarse adjustment may be effected and by rotation of which a fine adjustment may be effected, the axis of rotation of the instrumentality remaining in the same plane while being rotated and when being nonrotarily moved.

1 The above objects are accomplished in the present embodiment of the invention by providing a track which may be concavo-convex in transverse section and along which is moved an ad ustlng instrumentahty having a pair of rollers yieldably urged toward each other and ridingon opposite surfaces of the track, one of the rollers being preferably'of much greater diameter than the other and.

the mechanism for adjusting the variable condensers of a hookup, together with'visible indicating instrumentalities connected there- I with;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on line 2-2. M Figure 1. i

Fig. 3 shows a part of the structure illustrated in Figure 1 on an enlarged scale, emphasizing the adjustment control and its re lation to the track, and showing the roller 3 shaft slightly modified. j

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a different track .and roller relationship.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Figure 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the adjustment mechanism and indicating instrumentalities.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on line 7-7, Figure 6, showing the relation of parts of the indicator to each other. 7

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of a form of the indicator.

The present embodiment of my invention is herein disclosed in relation to condenser adjustment such as is disclosed in my above named patent, and relates particularly tothe instrumentalities for operating the control member or cam wheel 10 through which the condenser stators and rotors (not shown) are actuated, and to a device for visibly indicating the amount of'adjustment from a given relative position.

The adjusting instrumentalities comprise a lever arm 11 which is rigidly connected with the cam wheel in any suitable manner, so 35 as to have angular movement therewith. The lever arm is of relatively thin material whereby it is slightly flexible and is bowed at one end to provide vertical portions 12 and 13 in which may be journaled' a shaft'14 adapted to ride on a track l5 which may be inthe nature of a sector of a circle such as shown in Figure 2 of the drawin s. This track and roller relationship may e. of any suitable character; three forms trated.

Th'e form shown inFigures 1 and 2 will be l I first described, which shows the'track' as being concavo-convex in transverse section and bowed. upwardly, affording a rounded ridge 100' being herein illusv on its upper side and a trough in its lower side for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

The shaft 14 in the nature of an elongated roller, is maintained normally in contact with the upper surface of the track by a second roller 17 riding in the trough and yieldingly urged toward the roller 14 and the track by a spring arm orv shaft 18 on which it is rotatably mounted. The shaft 18 in turn, is

connected to the arm 11 by a lug 19 extending at an angle thereto and projecting thropgh an aperture 20 in the arm. The .connection between the lug and lever arm 11 is loose and the lug 19 is held in the aperture by the upward ressure exerted thereon by the roller 17 an the fulcrum afforded by the eye 21 on the end of the bolt 22 through which arm 18 pases. By means of this bolt, together with 4 the nut 23 the tension of the arm or shaft 18 lowing for the free movement of the arm 18 vertically while preventing lateral movement thereof relative to the arm 11.

It will benoted by referenceto Figure 1 of the drawings that the roller 17 is of great diameter compared with the shaft 18 on which it is mounted, whereby frictional res. sistanoe in rotation is small While the lever age between the tread and the shaft is comparativel great. The roller 17 is also of greater diameter than the roller 14, and while, with its resilient mounting, maintaining the latter roller in enga ment with the track, will not exert amaterial drag upon its movement therealon The drag is further minimized by provi ing the roller 17 with a narrow tread and affording through the bowed up portion of the track a comparatively'narrow contact with the tread of the roller 14.

The roller' 14 is held against axial movement by meansof the shoulder 26 formed by reduction of the inner end of the roller and a washer 27 held on this end by a cotter pin 28. This roller is both slidable and rotatable upon the track '15 and may be manually controlled 0 with respectto these movements by means of the knob 29 secured on its outer end. The front wall or panel 31 of the apparatus to which the above described control means is applied is provided with a horizontally ex tendingslot 32 throng which the roller 14 proj acts locating the ob'29 exteriorly of the said casing.

Above thisslot, the'panel is provided with a horizontally elongated window 33 which may be covered by any suitable translucent,

able character, as here shown it is in the shape of a V either printed on or cut from a member 36", of translucent or transparent material. The shadow of this pointer suitably projected on the window as bymeans of a lamp 37 secured within a chamber 38 provided by a casing having walls 39 and top and bottom closures 40 and 41; only the'front of the casing being open, and this opening being made to substantially coincide with the window 33 and to be closed by the dial member 34. The casing walls and top at the forward end are projected into a recess 40 formed in the.

wall of the casing 31 with the bottom spaced from the rear wall sufliciently to accommodate the extension of the pointer 36' into the chamber in a position between the lamp and the window. 7

By this arrangement the adjustment indication is projected u n the scale and lies in the plane thereof, ehminating all possibility of parallax in reading the scale. This is of importance in adjustin the control member 10, particularly in the actory adjustment of the same. Positioning of the pointer within the casing and rearwardly of the window has a further important advantage in that it reduces the number of breakable parts on the outside of the casing and permits unobstructed access to the window for dusting or for other pu rposes. g The walls of the chamber 38 should be of a non-reflecting nature and the lamp should be completely enclosed either by the walls of the chamber or of the casing in order toobtain the best results.

In Figures 4 and 5a variation of the track and roller relationship is shown, the track 43 thereof being comprised of a strip of material turned on edge and of sector shape, the same being shown suitably supported from the easing. On the.upper and lower edges of this track the peripherally grooved rollers 44 and 45 ride, the lower roller being yieldingly mounted and of large diameter compared to its carrying shaft and compared to the roller 44.

y In the forms of the device shown in Fig ures 3, 4, and 5, the tuning shaft is provided with a peripheral groove 42, whereby the friC-.

tional tread-thereof on the track is increased. -In the formshown in Figures 1 and 2,

material 34, as celluloid or. parchment, and track 15 is provided with limiting abutments 6 for the arm 11, and in Figures 4: and 5, track supports 47 serve as abutments to the same end.

Still further forms of the invention might be herein set forth. It is believed, however, that the forms herein illustrated will make clear the wide application of the principles of the invention and will make it clear that the invention is not limited to any one or any particular form involving these principles.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a radio apparatus, the combination with a pivoted, angularly adjustable tuning. control device, of means for effecting manual adjustment thereof, including a lever arm connected to said member and movable therewith,,a curved guide track for said arm having an axis of curvature common tot-he pivot axis of said device, a pair of guide rollers connected with said arm and arranged resiliently to contact with opposite sides of said track, one of said rollers being manually rotatable, an indicator connected with said arm to move therewith whereby it is guided by said track to move in a fixed path, a lamp, a casing for said indicator and lamp, and a translucent dial member forminga closure means for said casing.

2. In a device of the character described, a rotatable member, a lever arm connected therewith, a track, a roller rigidly journalled in the arm and engaging one side of the track, an indicator carried by the arm, manual means for operating said roller to move the arm, a spring arm connected to the firstnamed arm, and a second roller of relatively large diameter with respect to the first named roller mounted on said spring arm and urged thereby against the opposite side of the track, said track being concave in section to form a trough, and said second roller being arranged to travelin said trough, whereby said indicator and arm are guided to move along said track.

3. In a device of the character described, a'curved track, a pivotally mounted control arm having a free end movable along the track to various positions of adjustment, a roller j ournalled in the arm and engaging one side of the track, manual means for rotating the shaft and moving the arm, a spring shaft extending from the arm. a second roller rotatably mounted on the shaft and resiliently contacting with the opposite side of the track, said second roller being of greater diameter than the shaft and the first named roller, an indicator carried by the lever whereby it is guided to move along said track, and a fixed dial means therefor having substantially the same axis of curvature as the track.

4. In a tuning control apparatus adapted for effecting coarse and fine adjustment, the combination ofa movablecontrol member, a curved track, an arm connected withsaid track and lying adjacent said manual control member, and means adapted to co-operate with said dial member to provide a pro tective casing for said indicating means.

5. The combination with an apparatus having an adjustable rotary control member, of an indicating control means therefor including an elongated flexible lever arm con nected at one end with said member to move it about its'axis of rotation, said lever being bent at its opposite free end to provide spaced shaft bearings, a control shaft journalled in said bearings and projecting at one end from the lever in continuation thereof, a manual control knob mounted on the shaft at its projecting end for manually rotating the shaft and for moving the lever, an indicator carried by the lever adjacent its free end, means providing a chamber into one end of which said indicator projects, a translucent dial means arranged to close said end of the chamber and being arranged to be viewed when manually moving said control knob, a lamp in said chamber for illuminating said dial means, a track with which the control shaft-engages, and means including a resilient guide roller and a resilient mounting means therefor on the lever for holding said control shaft in engagement with said track.

6. The combination with an apparatus having an adjustable rotary control member; of an indicating control means therefor, ineluding an elongated flexible lever arm con-- nected at one end with said member to move it about its axis of rotation, said lever bein bent at its opposite free end to provide spaced shaft bearings, a control shaft journalled in said bearings and projecting at one end from the lever in continuation thereof. a manual control knob mounted on the shaft at its projecting end for manually rotating the shaft and for moving the lever, an indicator carried by the lever adjacent its free end, means providing a chamber into one end of which said indicator projects, a translucent dial means arranged to close said end of the chamher and being arranged to be viewed when manually moving said control knob, a lamp in said chamber for illuminating the dial, a track with which the control shaft engages, means including a guide roller and a resilientmounting means therefor on the lever for holding said control shaft in engagement with said track, and said track and dial means being curved and having a common center gf curvature with said rotary control memer.

7 In a radio apparatus, the combination with a rotatable control means therefor, of a lever arm connected at one end with said control means and .having a movable free end, a panel adjacent the free end of the lever, a slot in the panel, a control shaft arranged to project through said slot and being journalled in the free end of the lever, a window in said panel adjacent said slot, a casing mounted adjacent said lever and in alignment with said window, a translucent dial member'forming a closure means for said window and said casing, an indicator carried by said lever and projecting into said casing, a lamp in said casing arranged to project an image of said indicator upon said dial, said dial member and panel being curved about an axis of. curvature common to the axis of curvature of said control member,

and means for guiding said lever and indicator to move in fixed relation to said dial member and to said slot, includ' a guide track with which said control sha engages on one side of said track. and "a resiliently mounted roller of relatively large diameter mounted upon the lever arm and arranged to engage the opposite side of said track.

8. In a radio apparatus, the combination with rotatable control means therefor, of a lever arm connected at one end with said control means and having a movable free end,

'a panel adjacent the free end of the lever, a

slot in the panel, a control shaft arranged to project through said slot and being journalled in the free end. of the lever, a window in said panel adjacent said slot, a casing mounted adjacent said lever and in 111' ment with said window, a translucent lfiiil member forming a closure means for said window and said casing, an indicator carried by said lever and projecting into said casing, and a lamp in said casing arranged to grolject an image of said indicator upon said 1a 9. In a radio apparatus, the combination with rotatable control means therefor, of a lever arm connected with said control means whereby it is movable therewith at one end about the axis of said control means, a translucent dial member along which said end of the lever is arranged to move, an indicator for the dial member carried by said movable end of the lever adjacent said dial providing an index image on said scale in alignment with said tuning arm.

11 In combination, in a radio apparatus, an elongated, fixed, scale, means for illuminating the entire scale, a tuning means including the knob disposed beneath the scale and adapted for displacement along the entire length of the scale, and means, associated with said tuning means, interposed between said scale and illuminating means for providing an index image on 'said scale in substantial alignment with said tuning knob.

12. In combination,- in a radio set, an i1- luminated scale, a tuning arm provided with a manuall adjustable knob, and means operable wit the arm for projecting an index image on the scale constantly in alignment with said knob.

13. In a radio apparatus, thecombination with movable control means therefor, of an arm connected with said control means .indicator and said control means whereby said indicator moves in response to movement of said control means, and a lamp arran ed to illuminate said dial member and to .pro ect an image of said indicator upon said dial member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of July, 1930.

- HAROLD F. ELLIOTT.

member, and a lamp arranged to illuminate said dial member and to project an image of 'said indicator upon said dial member..

10. In combination, in a radio set, a station scale, a source of illumination for said scale, a tuning arm, and illumination obstructing means, arranged for movement in accordance. with displacement of said arm,

interposed between said source and scale for 

